This week, we’re joining more than 70 national and global construction firms for Construction Safety Week with a shared goal: inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety.
Safety Week got its start in 2014. That year, more than 40 global firms from the Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) and the Incident and Injury Free (IIF) CEO Form came together with a vision of inspiring every person in the construction industry to be a safety leader. In 2016, the concept grew with the addition of a yearly campaign, new members, and sponsors. Since its founding, their mission has remained the same: strengthen our industry’s safety culture.
Yes, we talk a lot about safety on this blog – and with good reason. Operating heavy equipment, working with powerful tools, and creating incredible structures requires diligent safety steps. Those working in the industry know first-hand. But, there’s more to jobsite safety than what meets the eye.
When you think of “safety” on the jobsite, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Chances are, things like quality equipment and safety gear came to mind. But this year, Safety Week goes beyond the physical safety steps to the psychological. This is a necessary shift, because no matter your role on the jobsite, construction jobs are physically and mentally demanding. Consider the following:
- This past year has been stressful – how do stressors such as these weigh on our workers and interfere with their work?
- Distractions are inevitable – how do they shift our focus from the job at hand and impact reaction times?
- Inner frustrations eventually boil over – how do they lead to miscommunication or unpreparedness?
This year’s theme of, “Be present. Be focused. Be safe.” calls us all to attention. When we think of a person’s safety holistically, we can ensure everyone’s wellbeing. What safety practices should you hold your team to?
- Be alert in everything you do.
- Communicate effectively to everyone.
- Support team members when you see them struggling.
- Be your teammates’ protector and act as a safety gatekeeper.
Look for posts on their Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date on the resources they share. By the end of this week, we and firms across the world hope to strengthen our industry’s safety culture. How will we achieve this?
- Educate on proven best practices from years of experiences.
- Share helpful tools and resources carefully curated by experts.
- Provide a platform to exchange knowledge from our individual experiences.
We are safer together. When we support one another and share our solutions, our industry as a whole will benefit. How can you get involved?
- Conduct on-site safety awareness activities.
- Thank your team for supporting safety.
- Recognize individual safety efforts.
- Inspire collaboration to strengthen your safety culture.
- Talk about safety to increase awareness and garner commitment.
- Click here for resources.
We want safety to be integrated into every construction firm’s culture. All of us in the construction industry share the same desire to work safely. Not only do we want to be safe for our own benefit, but also for our teammates and families. Together, we will build a safer community. By Friday, Safety Week may technically be over, but our industry’s dedication to safety won’t end here.
